Automatic winding machine having a clamping device

ABSTRACT

An automatic thread winding machine having thread tensioner means including a tensioning rocker acting upon a running thread being unwound from a supply coil, and sensing means specifically serving to monitor the presence of a broken thread, the tensioner means and the sensing means, respectively, being disposed in the path of travel of the thread being unwound from the supply coil includes a clamping device controllable in accordance with the condition of the thread being unwound, and being adapted, in the event of a break in the thread, to grip the thread end coming from the supply coil, the clamping device being formed by at least part of one of the means.

United States Patent Zumfeld et al.

[ Dec. 30, 1975 AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE HAVING A CLAMPING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Heinz Zumfeld, Monchen-Gladbach;

Hermann Rutten, Viersen; Nishit Bhattacharya, MonChen-Gladbach, all of Germany [73] Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & C0.,

Monchen-Gladbach, Germany [22] Filed: June 17, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 480,093

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 16, 1973 Germany 2330707 [52] U.S. Cl. 242/36; 242/37 R [51] Int. Cl. B65H 63/00 [58] Field of Search... 242/36, 37 R, 35.5 R, 35.6 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,304,015 2/1967 Jenny ..242/35.6R

Primary Examiner' Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Herbert L. Lerner [57] ABSTRACT An automatic thread winding machine having thread tensioner means including a tensioning rocker acting upon a running thread being unwound from a supply coil, and sensing means specifically serving to monitor the presence of a broken thread, the tensioner means and the sensing means, respectively, being disposed in the path of travel of the thread being unwound from the supply coil includes a clamping device controllable in accordance with the condition of the thread being unwound, and being adapted, in the event of a break in the thread, to grip the thread end coming from the supply coil, the clamping device being formed by at least part of one of the means.

vnull-nu minim-I US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,929,297

US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,929,297

AUTOMATIC WINDING MACHINE HAVING A CLAMPING DEVICE The invention relates to an automatic winding machine having a clamping device.

It has been known heretofore to provide an automatic winding machine with a clamping device controllable in dependence upon the condition of the thread to firmly grip the thread end coming from a supply coil, in the event of an interruption in the thread, such as after the thread is severed by a thread cleaner or after an accidental break has occured in the thread, for example.

It has furthermore been known heretofore that, upon the occurrence of a thread interruption, the thread end belonging to the supply coil rebounds in direction toward the supply coil under the action of the tension in the thread. In order to prevent this from occurring, it has been proposed heretofore to dispose in the path of the supply coil thread a clamping device that is controllable in accordance with the condition of the thread.

Since most variations in the condition of a thread are eliminated by means of a thread cleaner, the clamping device should, moreover, be closable or actuable automatically in dependence upon the response of a preferably electronic thread cleaner.

The individual winding stations of automatic winding machines have heretofore been provided with a respective thread tensioner and sensing device or thread feeler in addition to the aforementioned thread cleaner. The thread tensioner, moreover, has been formed of a locally fixed, rotatably mounted tensioner disc and a tensioning skid or rocker which loads or stresses the running thread.

Among the thread sensing devices or feelers are those which have the task of determining if, after a thread is broken, merely the knotting. operation should be initiated or the empty core of a supply coil or cop should be replaced by a new full supply coil. Such a sensing member is located preferably below the thread tensioner in direction facing toward the tip of the supply coil or cop.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improvement in heretofore known automatic winding machines. More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide the possibility of timely seizing and securely gripping a thread end formed by severing in the electronic thread cleaner without using the heretofore employed clamping device that is separately disposed and usable only especially for this purpose.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided in accordance with the invention, in an automatic thread winding machine having thread tensioner means including a tensioning rocker acting upon a running thread being unwound from a supply coil, and sensing meansspecifically serving to monitor the presence of a broken thread, the tensioner means and the sensing means, respectively, being disposed in the path of travel of the thread b'eing unwound from the supply coil including a clamping device controllable in accordance with the condition of the thread being unwound, and being adapted, in the event of abreak in the thread to grip the thread end coming from the supply coil, the clamping device being formed by at least part of one of the means.

The use of the tensioning rocker is:especial1y advantageous because it always engages the thread during the travel thereof and, if a break in the threadshouldoccur, it is only necessary to increase the pressure already exerted by the tensioning rocker on the thread in order to exercise a clamping effect upon the thread. Furthermore, no displaceable parts that are located spaced from the thread need be accelerated. The difference in position with respect to the thread travel between the tensioning rocker and the clamping device heretofore provided in a known construction is of no importance because the severing pulse of an electronic cleaner can be delayed with respect to the measuring pulse, so that when a release of the clamping action is effected by the measuring pulse, the clamping effect of the tensioning rocker can take place at least simultaneously if not, in fact, even before the severing pulse.

The coupling of the clamping device with the sensing means specifically employed for monitoring the presence of the broken or severed thread offers, in addition to the advantage of using a winding station element that is already present such as with the tensioning rocker, also the advantage of the optimal position or location. Even highly elastic threads, the ends of which are supposed to spring back from the vicinity of the tensioning rocker, are nevertheless always gripped by the lower disposed sensing device. Such a sensing device is advantageously constructed so that a displaceable rake dips or plunges into the gaps between several stationary bridges or cross-pieces, the play between the individual rake tines or prongs and the gaps between the bridges being chosen so that a thread disposed therebetween suffices to prevent the sensing of the displaceable rake. The coupling of the function of such a sensing device with the function of a clamping device of course demands special accuracy in the dimensioning of the aforementioned play between the individual prongs and the bridges, because of the desired clamping action. In order to reduce this required accuracy or to minimize the susceptibility to trouble resulting from the possible occurrence of dust deposition, in accordance with another feature of the invention, the clamping device comprises a fork-shaped member formed with prongs extending transversely to the thread travel path and being swingable transversely to the thread travel path into a stationary clamping bridge located opposite thereto, and a sensing finger disposed between the prongs and pivotable independently of the fork-shaped member.

In this way, within one and the same sensing means, both the clamping of the thread-end, as well as the sensing with respect to the presence or absence of this thread end are effected independently of one another. Accordingly, the course of time for both functions occurs independently and, in fact, the heretofore known clamping device, depending upon the response of the electronic thread cleaner, can be actuated as rapidly as possible while the sensing operation, however, with conventional elements, for example under the influence of the force of a wound flexible spring or the like, occurs with a delay.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an automatic winding machine having a clamping device, it :is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

Y The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection the accompanying drawings, in which:

. FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic front elevational view of a winding station of an automatic winding machine according to the invention, wherein the clamping device is formed by a tensioning rocker;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of another embodiment thereof wherein the clamping device is formed by a sensing device;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2 as seen from a location below the tensioning rocker showntherein;

FIG. 4 is another view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 of yet another embodiment wherein the sensing means includes a fork-shaped member and a separate sensing finger; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4 as seen from a location below the tensioning rocker shown therein.

Referring now to the drawing and first, particularly, to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 thereof, there are shown therein a thread 1 that is being unwound from a respective supply coil or cop 3 in direction of the arrow 16, and accordingly wound onto a non-illustrated conventional take-up spool after traveling past conventional nonillustrated thread guide elements. Along this travel path, the thread 1 passes through a fragmentary part of a winding station 30, of which thread guiding eyes 6, an electronic thread cleaner 7, and a thread tensioner 8 formed essentially of a rotatably mounted tensioner disc 31 and a tensioning rocker 32 loading or stressing the thread 1 are illustrated.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a clamping device according to the invention that is formed of the tensioning rocker 32 of the thread tensioner 8. For this purpose, the tensioning rocker 32 is provided with an arm 50. The increased pressure applied by the tensioning rocker 32 on a severed thread 1' for the purpose of tightly clamping it against the tensioner disc 31 occurs through a thrust magnet 39 controllable in accordance with the severing pulse of the electronic thread cleaner 7. In FIG. 1, there are furthermore shown the essential components of a sensing device or feeler 51, which serves for monitoring the presence of the broken thread 1. The sensing device 51 is formed of a stationary sensing bridge member 34 and a displaceable sensing member 35 shaped as a rake or fork.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the most important components of another embodiment of a clamping device 33 which in accordance with the invention, is formed from the sensing device which serves to monitor the presence of a thread 1 that has either been severed in the electronic thread cleaner 7 or broken in the thread tensioner 8. All of the components are shown in the position occupied by the clamping device 33 during travel of the thread 1. In order that the clamping device 33 may fulfill both the clamping function as well as the monitoring function thereof with adequate reliability, the gaps 36 of the sensing bridge 34 and the prongs or tines 37 of the sensing rake 35 are dimensioned so that a broken thread 1 located in front of the sensing bridge 34 prevents the introduction or insertion of the sensing rake 35 into the position 35' thereof shown in phantom in FIG. 3, the thread 1", however, being reliably gripped between the edges of the tines 37 and the gaps 36. A rapid reaction of the sensing rake 35 is especially LII required if a traveling thread 1 is severed by a knife blade 38 of an electronic thread cleaner 7, because the rebound action of the thread 1 in direction toward the supply coil or cop 3 is thereby at its greatest effect. The closing movement of the sensing rake is therefore also accelerated thereby through the thrust magnet 39 controllable in dependence upon the severing pulse of the electronic thread cleaner 7.

In FIG. 3 there is indicated by the aforedescribed phantom position 35' how far the sensing rake 35 mounted for rotation about the pivot 40 can swing if no thread 1 should be present. In such a case, the arm 41 assumes the position 41' shown in phantom and actuates a switch 42 which introduces or initiates a wellknown exchange operation for the unwound or empty supply coil 3. Through a rod 43, only part of which is shown in FIG. 3, the displaceable sensing rake 35 is returned before a new thread 1 is inserted into the position shown in a solid line in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has a clamping device 33 with a fork-like member 44 pivotable about pin 40. The fork 44 is coordinated with a thrust magnet 39 which serves to accelerate the swinging movement thereof. The fork 44 is formed with fork prongs or tines 45 which, when a thread break occurs, are disposed against the surfaces 46 of the clamping bridge 47 and, in this manner, grip the broken thread 1. After the broken thread 1 is gripped, a sensing finger 48, mounted for rotation about the pivot 40, can swing, independently of the fork 44, through the clamping bridge 47 between, the surfaces 46 thereof, and can determine if a thread 1 is actually present. If such a thread is not present, for example in the case of a supply coil 3 that has become fully unwound or empty, the sensing finger 48 can swing farther into the position 48 shown in phantom in FIG. 5 and can initiate the aforedescribed supply coil exchange through the arm 41 as well as the switch 42. The sensing finger 48 as well as the fork 44 are again returnable to their starting position through the rods 43 and 49.

We claim:

' 1.-In an automatic thread winding machine having thread tensioner means including a tensioning rocker acting upon a running thread being unwound from a supply coil, and sensing means specifically servingto monitor the presence of a broken thread, said tensioner means and said sensing means, respectively, being disposed in the path of travel of the thread being unwound from the supply coil, a, clamping device controllable in accordance with the condition of the thread being unwound, and being adapted, in the event of a break in the thread, to grip the thread end coming from the supply coil, said clamping device formed by at least part of one of said means, and means also disposed in the path of travel of the thread for detecting a thread break and actuating said clamping device to grip the thread end coming from the supply coil.

2. Winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said clamping device is formed by said tensioning rocker of said tensioner means.

3. Winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said clamping device is formed by said sensing means.

4. Winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said clamping device comprises a fork-shaped member formed with prongs extending transversely to the thread travel path and being swingable transversely to the thread travel path into a stationary clamping bridge 3,929,297 6 located opposite thereto, and a sensing finger disposed said fork-shaped member. between said prongs and pivotable independently of 

1. In an automatic thread winding machine having thread tensioner means including a tensioning rocker acting upon a running thread being unwound from a supply coil, and sensing means specifically serving to monitor the presence of a broken thread, said tensioner means and said sensing means, respectively, being disposed in the path of travel of the thread being unwound from the supply coil, a clamping device controllable in accordance with the condition of the thread being unwound, and being adapted, in the event of a break in the thread, to grip the thread end coming from the supply coil, said clamping device formed by at least part of one of said means, and means also disposed in the path of travel of the thread for detecting a thread break and actuating said clamping device to grip the thread end coming from the supply coil.
 2. Winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said clamping device is formed by said tensioning rocker of said tensioner means.
 3. Winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said clamping device is formed by said sensing means.
 4. Winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said clamping device comprises a fork-shaped member formed with prongs extending transversely to the thread travel path and being swingable transversely to the thread travel path into a stationary clamping bridge located opposite thereto, and a sensing finger disposed between said prongs and pivotable independently of said fork-shaped member. 